The Record-Review – The official newspaper of Bedford and Pound Ridge, New York

Cleanup day in Bedford empties attics, lures bargain hunters

By JOHN ROCHE

SCOTT MULLIN PHOTO

Volunteer John Talty unloads items from a truck at the Chowder & Marching Club’s Spring Cleanup weekend on Saturday, May 5.

It’s said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and the hundreds who turned out to the Town of Bedford’s dump last weekend for a two-day tag sale would certainly attest to that.

“We look forward to this every year, and actually start a countdown in January to the tag sale each spring,” said Kandy Farnsworth, who was browsing for bargains with a handful of friends at the sale on Friday. “There is always great stuff here, and we make it fun together. This is our 14th year coming with our little group. I guess we’re ‘The Dump Girls.’”

This marked the 36th year that the Bedford Village Chowder & Marching Club held its annual tag sale, which serves as the main fundraiser for the organization.

Last Friday and Saturday, scores of volunteers and a fleet of trucks donated for the event by local residents and businesses made home pickups of unwanted items, transporting the discarded stuff to the town’s highway facility on Crusher Road. There, Chowder & Marching Club members and other volunteers sorted through the furniture, clothing, household goods, sporting equipment, toys, knick-knacks, collectibles and other items that are then sold at bargain prices at the massive tag sale.

One hundred percent of the proceeds go toward the 55-year-old club’s mission of supporting programs, projects and activities that have a direct, positive impact on the youth of Bedford.

Another bargain hunter at the sale, Holly Bell, said the fact that the tag sale helps the Chowder &Marching Club’s charitable efforts in town adds to its popularity. “Everyone knows you’re going to find great bargains here, and the money all goes to a great cause,” Ms. Bell said.

In the past decade alone, the Chowder & Marching Club has donated more than $200,000 to the town and the Bedford Central School District.

Scouring the items for sale paid off for Wendy Miller, who snatched up a hammock, a pair of skis and handful of best-sellers. “There’s always terrific stuff, which really isn’t junk, but just things that people don’t want or use anymore,” Ms. Miller said. “If you come to the tag sale in Bedford, you’ll never walk away empty-handed or disappointed.”

Charlie Mackin of Bedford Corners said this was his first year at the tag sale, but said he’ll be back in 2013. “It’s fun to see what comes out of people’s attics and closets,” said Mr. Mackin, who purchased a fishing pole and some gardening tools. “Some of the stuff you see is just like new.”

Mr. Mackin said he got a kick out of watching “those in the know” line up where the trucks back in to unload the items picked up at various homes. “They’re eyeing bargains before the stuff even makes it off the truck,” he said. “It’s quite a funny sight.”

Candy Borner and her husband, Steve, were among the many volunteers on hand for the tag sale.

“The wet weather held off, the sun is coming out, and so are the shoppers,” Mr. Borner said on Friday afternoon. “It’s turning out to be a pretty good day for Day One of the sale.”

His wife agreed. “It’s going pretty smoothly, and there are plenty of bargain hunters and a good amount of donations either getting picked up by our volunteers or getting dropped off here,” Ms. Borner said. “It’s always great to see the support for the tag sale, and it helps a great deal for all that the club does throughout the year.”

Items that were still in usable condition but went unsold during the tag sale on May 4 and were donated to Goodwill, the Salvation Army and other nonprofits.

Longtime Chowder & Marching Club member Linda deMenocal pointed out last week that the entire town and the environment benefit from the tag sale, since the amount of trash and refuse that Bedford’s Department of Public Works personnel would have to cart away is greatly reduced, and items that are sold or donated after the two-day event don’t end up in a landfill.

The tag sale coincided with formal and informal spring cleanup initiatives in all three hamlets. Individuals, organizations such as the Katonah Village Improvement Society and the Bedford Hills Neighborhood Association and other groups did their part in sprucing up various areas in Bedford.

The town’s Department of Public Works also accepted household debris and metal waste at the Crusher Road facility, and brush and tree debris were accepted last weekend at the highway facility at Beaver Dam Road in Bedford Hills.

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